New equipment contracts signed
Date: 6 December 1999
South Africa has signed a series of contracts that will see it spending close on R30 billion on new weapons and equipment for the SA National Defence Force. The contents of the contracts are unchanged from that announced in September.
In September South Africa announced that it would be buying:
12 Hawk LIFT trainers and 9 two-seater JAS39 Gripen fighters from BAE Systems and SAAB for R8.662 billion as a first batch and a further 12 Hawks and 19 single-seat JAS39 Gripen as a second batch.
30 Agusta A109KM Light Utility Helicopters for R1.949 billion
3 Type209 Submarines from the German GSC for R5.354 billion
4 MEKO A200 Corvettes from the German GFC for R6.917 billion
The government committed itself to buying all the equipment unless "adverse economic circumstances" demanded it cancel the second batch of Hawks and Gripens. South Africa is also expected to contract for 4 Westland Super Lynx maritime helicopters for the Corvettes in the next few years. Sources say that should happen around 2004.
Defence Systems Daily
